Demography - Birth Rates 11F

Question 1

Define birth rates

Answer 1

Number of live births per 1000 of the population per year

Question 2

Is birth rates decreasing or increasing

Answer 2

Decreasing

Question 3

What was the birth rate 1990

Answer 3

28.7

Question 4

What was the birth rates decreasing in 2020

Answer 4

11.4

Question 5

What is a baby boom

Answer 5

An increase in the birth rate

Question 6

When were the baby booms of the 20th century

Answer 6

After the 2 world wars, and then again in the 1960’s

Question 7

Define fertility rate

Answer 7

The average number of children women will have during their fertile years

Question 8

What was the total fertility rate in 2020 ?

Question 9

Why has the total feritility rate changed ?

Answer 9

• more women are remaining childless than in the past
• women are postponing having children. Average age for having children is now 30
• fertility rates for women in their 30’s and 40’s are increasing

Question 10

Reasons for decline in birth rates

Answer 10

1. Changes in position of women
2. Decline in infant mortality rates
3. Children have become an economic liability
4. Child centredness

Question 11

Explain changes in position in women

Answer 11

• During the 20th century society changed: easier access to divorce, access to abortion and contraception, laws against sex discrimination, right to vote
• now a range of possibilities for women, other than being a housewife and/or mother. This has lead to: women choosing to delay childbearing or choosing not to have children

Question 12

Explain infant mortality rates

Answer 12

• Infant mortality rates has decreased from 1900 at 154 to 3.6 in 2020. As a result parents are less likely to have more children to ‘replace them’

Question 13

Explain children are an economic liability

Answer 13

• dependent on parents and don’t produce anything, previously children contributed to the household income
• this changed due to child labour being banned and children being required to attend school.
• also due to change in norms about what parents should provide for their children

Question 14

Explain child centredness

Answer 14

A changing social norm in society is the way that we view children. It’s been argued by sociologists that children are now seen as important and more attention and resources are given to them. As a result parents have fewer children